Tractor lister attachment



Sept. l2, 1944. c. T. RAY 2,357,848

TRACTOR LISTER ATTACHMENT l Filed Jan. 11, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 1 E EH. 51 1 N E {Y} :2% 1 X 0r l I N N N3 M \S gf o o l, Y 11M 'I Ii ii SQ i u N. 21 Tm f Qq@ mm "D W) K 3 6% I; o o o Qh G `lume/whom. W Q 4 CHARLES T. RAY 1 o x Y N u (A). M

q Imm/Qi Sept. 12, 1944.

c. T. RAY TRACTOR LI`STE ATTACHMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. ll, 1941 Juve-Wto@ CHARLES T. RAY

Sept. 12, 1944. c. T. RAY

TRACTOR LISTER ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. ll, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 atto: vul/m Sept. 12, 1944l c. T. RAY

I TRACTOR LISTER ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. ll, 1941 4 SheeLS--Sheetl 4 @mw A Patented Sept. 12, 1944 narran STATES 4PATENT OFFICE;

TRACTOR LISTER ATTACHMENT Charles T. Ray, Louisville, Ky., assigner to B. F. 1 Avery and Sons Company, Louisville, Ky., a

corporation o! Delaware l d Application January 11, 1941, Serial No. 374,129 A v L (C1. sir-47) l 16 Claims.

This invention relates to listers and bursters and has .particular relation to those implements for attachment to tractors. j

When yground working implements are used as attachments for tractors, it is quite important that the ground workingv tools be as close as possible to the wheels of thetrac'wr in order that complete control of the p low in its sidewise movement and that irregularities in the consistency of the earth traversed cannot throw the plow out of its predetermined path pr twist due to torsional strains.

The primary object of this invencin fis the provision of an improved lister and'burster4 for tractor attachment. A further object of the`in` vention is the provision of an improved tractor lister and burster wherein the depth vof entry of the plow member into the ground will be controlled by its shape andl height yof the forward end of the beam, while plowing, and not,by any pressure either in an-upwarddirection or downward direction applied tothe plow 'member itself-in other words 'an implement which will be pulled through the ground andits depthfconjheight v'offthe forwardv trolled entirely by the end of the beam.

Still another objectv of this-.invention is to provide an improved tractor listerv andv burster" wherein readily controlled means are provided to move the forward endl ofthe burster beam to a' .the ground' surface.

-at .i-ts- 'forward end at various heights during I the time the plow member is in the ground, the

latterbeing freeV toimove up and down but being confined to movement in a substantially vertical l Another and` still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved tractor lister attachment v,having a pair of ground working members, eachone of which may be placed at different relative adjustments and controlled as to depth while inthe ground and having a single means operable to guide both implements to'v a higher or lower level While in working position9 andto lift both members clear of lthe ground after the plow members have been guided above other and further objects of the inventionwiu be apparent, 'to those skilled inthe art, from a` reading of the complete specification and claims.

Referring to vthe drawings wherein is illus- "trated an embodiment of, the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention with the plow members out of theground, parts being| removed for clearness in illustration.

higher or lower 4position'relativefto. the ground ysurface when the plow is in the'ground without lifting any of the weight of the' plow'member'or any earth in which a plow member may be embedded. f v

A still further object of this invention is the provision of an improved tractor lister attach.-v ment which is provided with a single means which will not only guide the forward end of the burster beam to a higher or lower position, as. desired, when in the ground, but will also lift l sible. expenditure of Lpower and with no direct up or down pressureon the rear portion of the implement from the frame. v

A still further object of the invention is the provision cf a tractor lister attachment having Fig. 2 isa view similar to Fig. 1 but with the 7 burster members in theA ground.

Fig. 3` is ra. plan view of the invention, parts Y' lbeing broken away or omitted for purposes of clear illustration.

Fig. 4 is a, rear perspective view of the invention with -the seed hoppers and planting devices removed. 1 Y

' Fig. 5 is a detail view of the leveling lever 29a and its coacting parts on` the left side of the machine-opposite the lifting and control lever 29.

In the specification 'and claims where a lister` isfreferred to, it is to be construed broadly as being with or `without'tl'ie seed planting device or devices.

Referring particularly -to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, H0 designates the frame of a tractor having an engine Il I, a gasoline tank l I2, a water reservoir |I3 for a raditorfbehind the grille IM. Forward and beneath thevframe H0 is a steering wheel unit which is controlled through suitable and well known worm and gear mechanism (not l shown) by the steering wheelill and its shaft H5. On the rear portion of the frame is a seat H6 which isoccupied by the operative when the tractor is in use. Rear wheels ill are provided, which support the rear portion of theV tractor and provide the traction with the ground. 'I'hese wheels l Il are driven through suitable transmission mechanism from the engine i I I. In Fig.

a forwardly extending beam member adjustable ml, the rear wheel has been omitted vfrom the by the tractor as will be later'describedlinfde the farmer at the rear ofthe implement 'simply made clear. K. In order to control the height ofthe pivot pin,v 26 on the right sideof the tractorI at thefortractor is of the bridge type with the bottom vof the transmission gear housing above the axis of the wheels as illustrated in FigJ.- This provides extra space for the operation ofthe implement as will later be made clear. Y 1 l The present inventiony relates to listers and bursters and is designed-for use with andv for attachment to a tractor. Its method and means of attachment place it in thefclass of "direct-v' connected implements as' distinguished` from those which have. carrying wheels. Theimple- .f

ing plate on the opposite frame member it. The lifting lever 291s provided with the usual grip-controlled dog which registers with notches of the quadrant 30.

5 Near the end of the shaft 3| opposite to the arm 28 is a quadrant 28a which is rigid with the u Froml the foregoing it is clear that an adjust .ment ofthe lever 29 will raise or lower both of the links' 2ly since the Alever 29a is held on the f quadrant` 28a which is rigid with the shaft Il.

-This and .lowering'of the links 2l also ment herein described has no carryingwheelsijraises.andllowersthe forward ends of, the beams and when 'in transport position is carriodbodily n e burster, itse1f,',which'is' described is similar to the conventional walkingtypqwhichg .u latter is provided with of .proper to be drawin-A or pulled'by vhors'e'sfan'd with-handies for controlling the lburste'rgBy retrievingv -the handles of the ordinaryiniddlej.burstery1 could be attached ina manner-Ito4 and would work perfectly as in thezfpresentlnvention the main functions of thetractorfdur. Ving the plowing operation areilltolpull'fth burster', keeping the forward endat a predeter mined height and v(42) keep the bursterV in substantially the same plane-permitting .itg to" move upwardly and` downwardly 'as determined bythe position of the forwardfend .and taking the tor-.., sional 'strains'incident to any tendencyto move f v ns0 kat their outer ends. rear-end lifting .rods 36.

out of the predetermined plane.

vention operates are those of the true draft' A which has always been sought rby the farmer with hishorse pulling the implement forward and slightly upwardly against the reaction of the",

earth being displaced by the implement: With keeping it in a vertical plane, the depth .of furrow being determined by the height of tho 25. yWhenr-il: is'fdesired toadjust one relative o the other, the lever .20a is adjusted on the quadrant 28a. K 1

In order to counterbalance the weight of the v"burster when lbeing clifted, as will be later described,I"provide a counterbalance mechanism which tends to assist the lever 29 to'be moved to yits rearward position. y, On-the shaft 3l, a lever I2 is providedfat the outer end of which n vis connected-a link 33 Vto' which in turn is connected -a counterbalance `spring 3|. vAt the other end of the'counterbalance spring 3l is a hook ,I lwhichis screw-threaded at its end and f.adjustably ,connected to and through an out- 'wardly'extendingear 20a on the bracket plate 2U. A.' i similar vcounterbalance Inechaniam` is mounted on the opposite s ide. Y

On the' shaft I'I' 'are also mounted apair of lever arms 35 which have plvotally connected The rods 3l extend rearwardly and are vconnected for one way operation with the ing y' mechanisms which will now be described. As both sides of the lifting mechanism are the same, one description willl describe both.

'I'he burster beam 2B at Vits under side has a long cylindrical bearing 31 which is suitably se- 'gcured to the beam as by welding. Mounted on arm 39a of a bell crank lever I9, vthrough horse'the length of the traces ond-the cdiust- 'Divot pin ub.. is a bearing member 31a having ment of the clevis. a minimum amountlof work is needed to pull the plow vthrough the groundt Applying .these principles to vtheftriictor-attached plow, there are bearingbracket plates zo. attached to the forward portiony of ,the traevin; i tor frame IIB. Between these bearingA plates and journaled therein is a shaft 22'.

- f Mounted on the shaft zz is s'dreft banzir which is secured Yilrxnly to the shaftjby a bracket plate 24. .The draft bar 2l extends rearwardly and downwardly and at its rearend is secured the burster beam 25 as at,2l. It is the height of the pivot pin 26 above the -ground Awhich confurrow, as will be 'later trols the depthof the ward end of the beam`25, thereis -alsubstan-v tially vertical forward lifting link `2'!cimnectedff beam 25 whe'reby-thebea'mm'ay be lifted by the o bell crank lever., i Y

`With the rigid.' connection between the bearing "rnember )Tale andfithe.link` members 3112,. any tendency to sidewise,movementv lwill be resisted and with the rigidjionllectiong-.between the -beam rigid l1mi: bali; flame cm1aibjenystendenoy to at its lower end tothe pivot 2l fand at its"upper T70, D18-DGS -Derpildlcull' to th aXiS 0f rotation vof end to' en arm 2s of e uiting beiiorenk macontrol lever 29.

shaft is supported at one end on a quadrant plate 30 and at its opposite end in acorrespmq I. the respective bell'era'nks 39. The lifting lever 219 and the arm `28Y are carried bythe 'square shaft v3l which Mounted in bearings'as at 38 in bell Crank'leVer 39, having an operating lever 40 tfslnal mm'ement'V `will be counteraotedL-i- The "operatlng result of this eonstruction'isjfthat"the@ f movements o f theLburstersQwlll be confined fto.

Fig.` V3, is the having trunnions iournaled in the spaced meinbers of the operating lever 40.

The rearwardly extending rod 36 passes y. .beam is changed, the burster point will bev through the trunnioned ring and carries a.l sleeve 42 which is held in place by the two nuts 43.`4

From this construction it will be clear that if the bell crank lever 39 does not force the ring 4| against the sleeve 42, the rod 36, sleeve 42 and nuts 43 may move rearwardly without having any tendency to move the operating lever or the bell crank lever 39. The purpose of this yconstruction will be brought out inthe description of the operation as a whole.

On the rear end of eachbeam 2,5` is a burster Ibottoin having a pair oflslip heels 5I secured thereto andextending rearwardly from the bottom.v Secured to the beam at a point above the bottom is a divided pivoted frame 52, having `a we have the true draft condition.y If for any reason the height of the forward end of the guided up 'or down as the casemay be until a state of stability is reached. By knowing inv what notches the lifting lever and leveling lever dogs-have to be placed to produce a predetermined depth of furrows, it is only necessary toVV I lock the lifting and leveling levers at these points to produce the required depth of furrows.

The lifting bail vlink frames and connecting parts, 31, 31a, 31h and 31e, prevent sidewise and torsional movement and at the same time permit free up and down movement of the burster bottoms.

When it is desired to raise the bursters from the ground, it is not necessary to put any lifting .v force on the rear portion of the implement. It

pivot 53 secured on the beam. At the rear end are spring pressed ina downward direction. Be-

tween the arms of the bracket 56 and the side members o1' the frame 52 is a planter boot 59 which is secured rigidily to the beam 25. The boot 59 has its `open end located between the slip heels 5i inorder to deposit the seed at the bottom of the furrow just prior to the passage of v the coverers which cover the seed with earth.

In the top of the boot of each lister there is a iiexible seed conduit 54 the'upper end of which is connected to the planting device below the hopper 6l. A sprocket 62 (see Fig. 3) is driven through the chain 53a. There is a planter and hopper and coacting mechanism for each lister.

l One hopper and planting device has been omitboot,` regardless yof the vheight ofthe burster bottom..

These by a sprocket 33, mounted on the wheel H1,`

is only ,necessary to use the lifting and control lever29 as a control lever, moving the same backwards to' -raise the front end of the burster beams 25 by raising the links 21, at the same spring 58. It is thus clear that theicoverers 54 d time moving the lifting rods 36 forward luntil the sleeves 42 reach the trunnion rings 4I but not far enough to exert lifting pressure on the burster bottoms. f

The forward movement of the tractor with the points pointed at an upward incline, brings the `burster bottoms out of the earth. If desired, further movement of the lever-29 causes it'to function as a lifting leverand both front and rear ends of both bursters are lifted clear ofjthe ground. Y' v f In the drawings, I have illustrated a two row lister. It is to be understood that it is not necesary to have the two bursters yand that a single burster could be used. i

The tractor illustrated is of a type permitting reversal of the wheels and thus making a wide or narrow tread tractor as desired.

While the invention has been illustrated and described somewhat in detail, it is to be under' stood that the disclosure is merely illustrative The operation yof the invention as a whole is I tor forward and moves the lifting lever29 from its position in Fig. 1 toward the position of Fig. 2.

The first result of this action is the lowering of the lifting links 21 and the foward ends of the beams 25 and the corresponding lowering of the rear end of the draft bar 23. Simultaneously during the first part of the movement, the lifting rods 36 move rearwardly, lowering the bursters until the points reach the ground. Further movement of the lifting rod 3B rearwardly, moves the sleeves 42 away from the trunnion rings 4I and the rear of the bursters are free for up and down movement. As the tractor moves the bursters forward, the bursters will continue their downand that modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and within its scope as claimed.

Having described my invention what I claim is: 1. A tractor lister attachment comprising a burster plow member having a forwardly extending beam, vertically swinging adjustable means having its forward end connected adjacent the forward end of the tractor frame for supporting the forward end of the beam and serving as a draft member and being in substantially a straight line to the plow member and means for supporting the rear end oi' the plow and to raise and lower the rear end of the plow when it is above the ground and controlling means for raising and lowering the front end of the beam, said vbeam guiding the plow out of or into the ground Jdufing forward movement of the tractor and means coacting with the raising and lowering ward movement until the slip heels 5i rest upon means for releasing the raising and lowering means rof the rear end from operation when the plow member is in working position.

2. A tractor lister attachment comprising a burster plow member having a forwardly extending beam, vertically swinging adjustable means having its forward 'end connected adjacent the forward end of the tractor frame for supporting the forward end of the beam from the tractor at different levels and being in substantially a straight line to the plow'member, means for raising and lowering the rear end of the plow member from and above the ground, `and means coacting with the forward raising and lowering plow member from the tractor, the'forward andrear ends of the adjustable supporting means being in a line to the plow member and a single operative-controlled means connected adjacent to and for moving the front end of the plow beam up and down whether the plow is in or above the ground and for exerting a lifting action on the rear portion of the plow member when it is above the ground and releasing the rear supporting means from operation when the plow ls in operation in the ground. v

4. A tractor listerattachment comprising a burster plow'member having aforwardly extending beam, vertically swinging adjustable means f having its forward end connectedvadjacentthe forward end of the tractor frame for supporting the forward end of the beamfrom the tractor and f means and having a connection which is released from operation while the forward supporting means is below a predetermined level.

7. A tractor lister attachment comprising a draft bar, means for securing the forward end of the draft bar to the forward end of a tractor,

means for adjustably controlling the height of the rear portion of the draft bar and a burster plow member pivotally'connected to the rearward portion of the draft bar intermediate the ends of the tractor for free'up and down'movement when plowing the adjustably controlling means includingA means for releasing the rear portion of the plow for free. up and downvmovement on the initial movement toward operativeposition.

8. A tractor lister attachment comprising a draft bar, means for pivotally lsecuring the forward end of the draft bar to the forward end of a tractor, means for adjustably controlling the height of the rear portion of the draft bar, a burster plow member pivotally connected to the rearward portion of the draft bar and means coacting `with the adjustably controlling means and operative when the plow is above the ground to lift its rear end oil the ground and operatively "disconnected to affect the depth of the plow when at any one of a plurality of heights, the ends of the adjustable means having a substantiallyA straightL line to the plow member .means connected to the rear end of the plow member for raising and lowering the rear end when it is above the ground surface and means for releasing the raising and lowering means from operation when lthe plow member is in plowing position, the raising and lowering means comprising y*means for confining the movement o1' the plow member to a single plane when the plow member is in'working positionand for causing the release of the rear raising and lowering means during the initial lowering movement of the forward end of the beam.

5. A tractor lister attachment comprising a burster plow member having a forwardly extending beam, vertically swinging adjustable means having its forward end connected adjacent the forward end of the tractor frame for supporting the forward end of the beam from the tractor and at any one'of va. plurality of heights, the ends of the adjustable Ameans having a substantially straight line to the plow member means including a bearing and spaced link members rigid with the bearing, for raising and lowering the rear end of the plow and confining its movement to substantially a single lplane when in working position and' means for releasing the raising and lowering means from operation when the rear of the plow member is in working positionwhereby the rear end of the plow will seek a predetermined level as controlled by the height of the forward end of the beam.

6. A tractor lister attachment comprising a f burster plow member having a forwardly extending beam, vertically swinging adjustable means having its forward end connected adjacent the forward end of the tractor frame for supporting the forwardend of the beam from the tractor and at different levels, the ends of the adjustable means having a substantially straight line to the plow member means for raising and lowering the rear end of the plow member from and above the ground, a hand lever connected to the front supporting means for controlling its height and i it is in the ground, the draft barand plow member being pivoted together intermediate the front and rear tractor wheels.

9. A tractor lister attachment comprising a I draft bar, means for pivotally securingy the foran elongated member connecting the front sup- Y ward end of the draft bar to the forward end of ya tractor, means for adjustablyycontrolling the height of the rear portion of the draft bar and a burster plow member pivotally connected to the rearward portion of the draft bar for free up and down movement when plowing, the depth of entry in the ground of the rear portion ofthe plow member being controlled by the height of the forward end of the plow beam, the draft bar and plow member being pivoted together ,intermediate the front and rear tractor wheels.

10.1A tractor lister attachment comprising a draft bar, means for pivotally connecting the forward end of the draft bar to a tractor, means for adjustably controlling the height of the rear portion of the'draft bar and a burster plow member pivotally connected to the rearward portion of the draft bar for free up and down movement in a plane normal to the axis of the' draft bar pivotal connecting fmeans, the adjustably controlling means including a means for freeing the plow member for. said up and down movement during the initial movement toward ope'rativl position.

11. A tractor lister attachment comprising a draft bar, means for pivotally securing the forward end of the draft bar to a tractor, means for adjustably controlling theheight of the rear portion of the draft bar, a burster plow member pivotally connected to the rearward portion ofthe draft bar, the ends of the draft bar being in-a line to the plow member and means including and under control of a single manually m'ovable means to guide the forward end to bring the plow member out of the ground under forward movement and a lost motion connection which operatively connects the singlel manually movable means to the rear height-controlling means, as y nected thereto, the forward end of the draft bar having means for pivotal connection to a tractor, a manually operated height-controlling means for raising and lowering the pivotal connection between the draft bar and beam, the draft bar and plow member being pivoted together intermediate the front and rear traction wheels, means for raising and lowering the rear end of the plow, an elongated means for connecting the manually controlled means with the rear raising and lowering means including a lost motion device, for releasing theelongated means from operating when the front end of the plow beam is not higher than a predetermined level.

13. A tractor .lister attachment comprising a pair of burster plow members, each having a forwardly extending beam connected to the forward end of the tractor, separate means for adjustably supporting and holding in place the forward ends of the respective beams, the ends of the separate means being located substantially lin respective straight lines' which pass from iront to rear through the respective plow members, means for separately supporting the rear ends of the respec tive plow members and a connection between the forward and rear supporting means of the respective plow members for releasing operative control of the rear from the forward supporting means when the latter are lower than a predetermined level and forA operativelyconnecting the termined leveland for operatively connecting the two together for simultaneous lifting of the two plow ends when the rear of the plow is out of the ground, adjustable connections between the separate means whereby relative height adjustment may be given the two forward beam ends and a single means for adjusting the two together while maintaining the relative adjustment.

15. A tractor lister attachment comprising a pair of burster plow members, each having a forwardly extending beam connected to theforward end of the tractor, separate means for adjustably supporting and holding in place the forward ends of the respective beams, the ends of the separate means` beingy located substantially'in respective straight lines which pass from front to rear through the respective plow members, means for separately supporting the rear ends of the respective plow members and a connection between the forward and rear supporting means of the respective plow members for releasing operative control of the rear from the forward supporting means when the latter are lower than a predeterv mined level and for connecting the two together s for simultaneous lifting of the two plows ends belgiven the two forward beam ends and a sin two together vfor simultaneous lifting of the two plow ends when the rear of the plow is out of the ground and a single control means for lifting both plow members bodily and at the same time when above the ground surface.

14. A tractor lister attachment comprising a pair of burster plow members, each having a forwardly extending beam connected to the forward end of the tractor, separate means for adj ustably supporting and holding in place the forward ends of the respective beams, the ends of the separate means being located substantially in respective straight lines which pass .from front to rear through the respective plow members, means for separately supporting the rear ends of the respective plow members and a connection between the forward and rear supporting means of the respective plow members for releasing operative control of the rear from the forward supporting means when the latter are lower than a predegle means for adjusting the two together while maintaining the relative adjustment, and for bodily lifting both plow members, when they are above the ground, to an elevated position for transport.

16. A tractor lister attachment comprising a burster plow member having a forwardly extending beam, a draft bar pivoted at its forward end to the tractor and extending rearwardly at an angle to the horizontal and being pivoted at its rear end to the forward end of the beam the ends of the draft bar being in a line to the plow member, a frame pivotally mounted on the tractor having spaced link members for supporting the rear of the plow member, the axis of the pivoted frame being substantially in a horizontal plane to permit free movement of the plow member in a vertical plane and prevent torsional movement of the plow relative to the tractor.

CHARLES T. RAY. 

